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This speaker hardly matches the “Who are you? Do you know who I There is both irony and much that is
claims for sound reproduction in the am?” No answer. Turns to the other unique about the Plaza story. It wasn’t
opening night advertorial - ‘Western man pointing, “Does this man speak variety acts on a cinema stage that
Electric Wide-Range, the perfect English?” “Yes”. “Does he understand made this theatre special, because a
reproducing unit, identical to that in the me?” “Yes, he will be able to slice of live entertainment was often
new Metro and Capitol theatres in understand you.” Health launched a included in cinema programs at least
Melbourne.’ No bass boxes or prosecution, mainly on the grounds of until 1930.
crossover networks were used. the unattended projectors. The difference was that the Plaza
When audience numbers warranted made a complete switch to variety and
a better-than-average-presentation, entered the field after all others had left
Clyde would walk back stage and close it. In doing so, and with impeccable
the show by drawing the curtains by timing as it turned out, the Plaza was
hand. The Plaza did screen The High to do as much or more for the evening
and the Mighty in CinemaScope. The enjoyment of a huge slice of
standard lens was used as backing lens, Melbournians as any cinema.
with the anamorphic lens, probably a
Hilux, swung over in the front position. ‘Tis not for mortals to command
success, But we’ll do more - Deserve
Fred Page recalls a stadium-style
it. - The Plaza Promise.
interior in powder blue and beige, the
seats upholstered in a port wine colour. Northcote Leader 3 January 1935
The very small stage had a picture-
*Gordon Evans, Cameron Hall, Gerry
frame proscenium with a nice touch: Kennedy, Ross King, Jo Maxion, Brian
the top was slightly convex, so that the Miller, John Payne, Ian Smith, Frank Van
curtain travelled towards the audience Straten, Eric White, Jim White and Peter
as it closed. He remembers large ‘green Wolfenden.
tiles’ covering the end wall between the
Acknowledgments
proscenium and side walls.
The authors are indebted to Mr Richard
As well as Kerston’s soothing voice, Mulvaney for his perceptive comments
Ron Northrop remembers the walk from about the variety years at the Plaza, written
One year later Mr Menck informed
the foyer down a ramp to a narrow for a program broadcast by Golden Days
Health that the property has been sold.
passage through to the auditorium. In Radio. We thank our colleagues Frank Van
The date of the last screening is not Straten and Ross King for background on
the passage, doors on either side opened
known because the new lessee did not AR Harwood.
on to staff or storage rooms. The Health
use newspaper advertising. The theatre
file labelled this passage as a vomitory. References
became a bowling alley - Plaza Lanes ?
Ron says that the curtain colour was 1 Yul Brynner, The King and I
which only operated for a few years.
dusty-orange tonings. 2 Val Jellay: Stagestruck Spectrum
Thereafter a number of businesses Publications 1994
The final screening under Mr shared the building. They included a 3 The Sun 23 Nov. 1942
Menck’s direct control began on 5 discount store and a gymnasium. In 4 Health File. Public Records Office.
February 1959. In April 1960 the 1986 the building became Elysee 7882P1, Unit 930, File No. 7946
theatre re-opened showing Italian films. Receptions. It was sold in 2008 for 5 Northcote Leader, 3 Jan. 1935
When a Health Department inspector conversion to apartments. 6 The Herald, 26 Dec. 1934
paid a visit in June he was shocked by 7 The Age, 5 Sept. 1939
Reading between the lines, it seems
the apparent ignorance of, and 8 Northcote Leader 1 April 1943
likely that managing the Plaza was
disregard for the Health regulations. 9 Richard Mulvaney: Extracts from radio
mostly hard slog, but there is another transcript.
One exit was blocked by an iron bed
possibility. Ludbrook Owen Menck was 10 Toni Lamond: First Half Waiting in the
frame wedged externally against it. The
clearly a man of means and perhaps he Wings, Pan Books 1990
dress circle had almost no aisle lights
thrived on conflict. We prefer to think 11 Bob Horsfall, personal communication.
and the assistant projectionist had left
that the Plaza was his personal 12 Northcote Leader 30 Sept. 1953
his post in the bio-box to sit with a girl.
fiefdom, almost a hobby, to run as he Additional Photos & Artwork Material
Returning to the foyer, the inspector liked. from the Kevin Adams Collection
grilled the manager and his assistant.
The exchange of words as reported
verbatim in the Health file (condensed
here) was comical for the display of
incomprehension, by all parties, of the
new realities of the cinema business:

18 2010 CINEMARECORD